Baggage carrier



G. H. WHEARY BAGGAGE CARRIER Dec. 13, 1927.

2 Sheets-Sneet. 1

Filed Dec. 1'7, 1924 1 m In 1 a 30 ed according to the best modesPatented Dec. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATE-Sv PATENT OFFICE- GEORGE HENRY WHEARY, F RACINE, WISCONSIN,ASSIGNOR TO WHEARY TRUNK COMPANY, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN,

A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

BAGGAGE CARRIER.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in baggagecarriers and refers more particularly to baggage carriers of that type,comprising hingedly connected sections, one section of which has itsbottom on a higher plane than that of the other.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved and novelsupport for the baggage carrier section having its bottom on a higherplane. 7

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of animproved type of support of the character described which may be used inconnection with devices other than baggage carriers.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it beingunderstood that such changes in the precise embodiment of thehereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated two complete examplesof the physical embodiment of my invention construct-- I have so fardevised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and inwhich:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lower portion of a baggage carrierof the wardrobe trunlr type equipped with my improved supporting means.the sections of the bag gage carrier being in open position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary view taken through the lowerportion of the sec tion mounting the supporting means on the plane ofiine 22 of Figure 1, the supporting means being in collapsed position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary View taken through the front panel of theextension member adjacent the outer panel of the movable section withthe movable section in partly opened position;

Figure 4. is a fragmentary view similar to Figure illustrating theapproach of the movable section to closed position;

Figure 5 is a view taken on the plane of the line 55 of Figure 1 andillustrating a slightly modified construction of supporting l g andFigure 6 is a view of that form of supporting means illustrated inFigure 5 illustrating the supporting leg in the act of folding orcollapsing as the movable section is closed.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, in whichlike numerals designate like parts throughout the several views; 10designates the wardrobe section and 11 the drawer section of a baggagecarrier of the wardrobe trunk type. The wardrobe section includes sidepanels 12 and a front panel 13 and the drawer section includes sidepanels 14 and a front panel 15, the sections being hingedly connected bya suitable hinge fitting 16 connecting the marginal edges of twoadjacent side panels of the sect-ions. The upper portions of thesections have not been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and thesections are releasably locked in closed position by any desired type ofmechanism, not shown.

In furtherreferencc to a carrier as abovementioned, the bottom of one ofthe sections is disposed on a higher plane than the bottom of the otherand is adapted to close over an extension member 17 projected from thebottom of said other section. In this embodiment, the drawer section isthe one having its bottom on a higher plane, although it will be readilyunderstood that the extension member 17 may be formed on either sectionand, if desired, may be provided with an interior space or compartment18. When the space or compartment 18 is provided, a closure 19 ispreferably hingedly connected, as at 20, with either a partition wall 21separating the compartment 18 from the interior of the wardrobe section,when the extension member is carried thereby, or with the panels of thesection, the free end thereof being supported on a stop 22.

As before stated, in the present illustration, the drawer section hasits bottom on the higher plane and the lower marginal edges of thepanels thereof are adapted to be interlocked with the panels of theextension member when the drawer section isclosed. thereover to resistspreading between the parts and impart a uniform exterior appearancewhen the sections are closed. The means connecting the meeting edges ofthe panels of the extension member and the section movable thereover areprovided with elongated interlocking members 23' and interlocking dowelmembers 2% mounted at the corners. V

r A bottom wall 25 closes the bottom of the drawer section and the usualdrawers 26 are slidably mounted therein.

VJhile the hinge fitting 16 may be made.

to support the entire weight of the drawer section when in openpos1t1on, it is desirableto provide means supporting the outer free endthereof to relieve the hinge fitting of a portion of the weight andconsequently prevent the placing of undue strains on the side panels ofthe sections such as would occur when the drawer section is heavily Ypacked. To this'end I provide the supportof the movable section adjacentthe inner lower marginal edge thereof by rivets or other means 29. Thebottom wall 25 of the movable section is slotted or cut-away, as at 30,to accommodate plate 28 and permit movement of the leg thereinto whenthesections are closed, as illustrated in Figure The outer free end of theleg 27 carries a stub shaft 31 on which floor engaging roller 32provided with a suitable rubber tread 33 is journaled by a roller orball bearing 3%. The inner end of the leg is extended beyond the pivot29 and provided with a lockinglug or latch element 35 whi his'engageable in a looking or latch recess36 I formed in the outer freeend portion of a keeper or lockinglever 37 when the leg is in avert-iealor active position.

,The lever 37 has its inner end pivotally fixed to the plate 28,adjacent the inner 'upper corner thereof by a pivot 38, the movement oflts free end being defined by the limits of an arcuate slot 39 struzl;from an arcemploying the pivot 33 as a center and in which works a studor stop 40 fixed to the outer upper corner portion of the plate. Thelever 37is normally in an approximately horizontal position by gravityand when in such position a latch trip ll se-- cured thereto medially ofthe locking recess 36 and the pivot 38 by rivets or other means 42 hasits lower inclined or cam shaped enc 43 extended below the plane of theedge of the front panel {i l of the :rtension member. The trip at].rides over the e tension me front panel in the opening and closingmovements of the movable section, raising the outer free end of thelocking lever 37 within the limits of the slot 39 to free the lockingrecess 36 of the locking lug 35.

As best illustrated in Figure 2 the leg 27 is folded or collapsed withinthe recess 30 with the roller 32 engaging the closure 19, when thesections are closed and the locking lever 37 is in its horizontalposition. As the movable section is swung'to open position, the roller32 tracks over the closure 19 and rides over the upper edge of theextension member front panel,' the outer end of the leg dropping of itsown weight substantially si multaneously with the lifting of the freeend of the lever 37 by the trip latch 41 riding over the front panel il. The locking lever being out of the path of the leg locking lug 35,frees the leg of any frictional restriction to its movement to itsvertical operative position defined by a stop d5 carried by the plate28, and the lever drops to its locking position as the trip passes oilthe front panel ll, engaging the looking lug in the 'ecess 36 1r vidingthe'leg has moved to its dotted positionin Figure 3. The leg is thusrigidly secured in its operative p tion by the locking lever to providea stur support for the outer free end of the marable section while inopen position, the lower-most portion of the roller 32 being at alltimes on an even plane with the bottom of thenormally stationarysection.

In the event the leg 2? fails to move by its weight to the dotted lineposition illustrated in Figure 3, with its locking lug 35 in line to beengaged in the locking recess 36, trunk controlled leg actuating member416 is provided having a horizontal arm portion 47, the outer end &8 ofwhich is offset and directed upwardly and .pivotally secured to the lega. shortdist-ance from the pivot by a pivot 49. The other end portion ofthe ineml or i6 is of the irregular shape illustrated in Figures 2-to atand is secured to the plate QSby a stud 51 carried thereby and passedthrough a c-am opening or slot 52 in the end 50 of the member. The armportion l? of said member is defined and separated from the end portion50 by a re cess or notch 53 and the lower'surface of the arm portionextends beyond the plane of the lower surface of the end 50, the wall orshoulder 54 defining the end of the recess or notch 53 adjacent the end50 being inclined to form a cam surface, for the reasons to be laterdescribed, and the wall 55 defining the other end thereof being abruptfor the purpose later described.

The cam slot 52 is inclined inwardly and upwardly from the outer end ofthe portion 50 so that with the leg 27 in vertical position the stud 51is at the inner upper end thereof.

7 As the movable section is opened to the point where the end 55 of thearm 47 passes beyond the front panel 44 of the extension member the legdrops as hereinabove described, the lower surface of the arm 47 be ingheld on a plane above that of the edge of panel 44 by the pivot 49 andthe stud 51 in the manner illustrated in Figure 3. The lower edge of theend portion 50 of the actuating member 46 while on a higher plane thanthe lower edge of the arm 47 extends below the plane of the upper edgeof the extension member front panel when the leg is in any positionapproaching vertical and as a result the cam or inclined wall 54 of therecess strikes the upper edge of the front panel 44 moving the actuatingmember 46 to the right with reference to Figure 3, if the leg has notbeen moved to its operative position by its weight as above described.The movement of the member 46 by its engagement with the front panel islimited by the stud 51 reaching the extreme upper end of the cam slot52, when the cam wall 54 rides over the front panel raising the member46, the stud 51 passing into a vertical slot 56 communicating with theextreme inner upper end of the cam slot 52, the actuating memberdropping as it frees the extension member to its dotted positionillustrated in Figure 3. This construction provides mechanical means forpositively assuring the locking of the leg in operative position on eachopening of the sections. 7

The leg being thus secured in operative position, the movable sectionmay be freely swung full open, the outer free end thereof beingsupported by the leg 27 relieving the hinge fitting 16 and the sectionside panels of undue strain, the supporting leg providing a support forthe outer free end of the movable section at any point from full open toa partially closed position.

As the movable section is closed, the extreme outer curved edge 57 ofthe end 50 of the trunk controlled actuating member rides over the upperedge of the extension member front panel, the stud 51 passing into thevertical portion 56 of the cam recess, and then drops back to its dottedposition illustrated in Figure 3. Continued closing movement of thesection engages the end 43 of the trip 41 with the upper portion of theextension member front panel raising the free end of the latch lever 37and disengaging the locking recess 36 and the locking lug 35 with thelatch member still in raised position, the inner end of arm 47 strikesthe front panel 44, as illustrated in Figure 4 moving the trunkactuating member to the left with reference to Figure 4 swinging leg 27on its pivot in a clockwise direction to its folded or collapsedposition. Folding of the supporting leg bodily raises the member 46 byreason of the shifting of its pivot 49 and the movement of the stud 51into the lower end of the slot 52 until it frees the top of the panel44, see Figure 2, the latch lever dropping to its normal position as thetrip frees the front panel.

In Figures 5 and 6, a slightly modified form of collapsible or foldablesupporting means is illustrated in which the trunk controlled actuatingmember is eliminated and in its place the leg isprovided wit-h anarcuate arm or lever 58 which lies within the path of the extensionmember front panel when the leg is collapsed. Opening movement of themovable section engages the outer end of the arcuate arm with the innerface of the front panel, swinging the leg on.

its pivot toward vertical position. The latch member 41 is also replacedby a trip element 59 approximately V shape with one arm 60 thereof ofarcuate shape to conform with that of the lever or arm 58 of the supporting leg to which it is pivotally secured, as at 61. The other arm 60of the trip secured to the leg proper to permit its movement on thepivot 61 within the limits defined by the ends of an arcuate slot 62 inthe outer end portion of the arm 60 and struck on an arc with the pivot61 as a center, a leg carried stud or pin 63 being passed through saidslot. The outer end portion of the trip arm 60' has a cam 64 formedthereon adapted to be in the path of the upper edge of the front panel44 when the supporting leg is in operative position to move the trip onits pivot 61 and raise lever 37 to free the locking lug of the lockingrecess 36. As will be evident lever 37 is of a thickness to extendbeyond the face of the supporting leg to permit its engagement by thetrip 59.

If desired a contractile spring 65 may be employed to yieldably holdlever 37 in locking position, the spring having one end connected withthe lever 37, as at 66, and its other end connected with the plate 28,as at 67. In place of the roller 32, the lower end 68 of the leg may bedirected laterally and provided with a suitable ball or other floorengaging means 69.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it will be readily obvious to those skilled inthe art to which an invention of this character appertains that Iprovide an improved supporting means especially adapted for baggagecarriers. although it may be used in connection with any other devicewherein a collapsible ordisappearing support-ing structure is desired.

hat I claim as my invention is:

1. A collapsible support for a trunk of the class described, comprisinga carrying member, a supporting leg collapsibly mounted on the carryingmember, a locking lever, cooperating means carried by the supporting legand lever to lock the leg in operative posit and trunk operated meansoperable to break the locking connection between the lever and leg topermit collapsing of the leg.

2. In a device of the character described having a compartment memberand a section movable thereover supporting structure for the sectionwhen in open position and comprising a floor engaging member, meansconnectingthe floor engaging member with the movable section formovement to and from an active position, means operable to lock; thefloor engaging memberin active position when the movable operablecarrying member,

section is moved to open position, and means to release the lockingmeans and permit the collapsing of said floor engaging member. I I

3. In a device of the character described having a compartment memberand a section movable thereover to closed position, of a supportingstructure for the section when in open position and comprising a floorengaging member, means connecting the floor engaging member with themovable section for movement to and from an active position, meansoperable to lock the floor engaging member in active position when themovable section is moved to open position and means operable by theclosing movement of the section to release the member locking means.

4. In a device of the character described having a compartment memberand asection movable thereover to closed position, of a supportingstructure for the section when in open position and comprising a floorengaging member, means connecting the floor engaging member with themovable section for movement to and from an active position, meansoperable to lock the floor engaging member in active position when themovable section is moved to open position, and means operable by theclosing movement of said section to release the member locking means andswing the floor en ing member to a a collapsed position- 5. Acollapsible support of the character described, comprising a carryingmember, a supporting leg collapsibly mounted on the carrying member, alocking lever, cooperating means carried by the supporting leg and leverto lock the leg in operative position, and means for moving the leg tolocked position.

6, A collapsible support of the character described, comprising acarrying member, a supporting leg collapsibly mounted on the a lockinglever, cooperating means carried by the supporting leg and lever to lockthe leg in operative position, means for moving the leg to lockedposition, and means to move the lever tree of the supporting leg thesame moves to locked position.

V 7. A collapsible support of the character described, comprising acarrying member, a

to closed position, of a.

supporting leg collapsibly mounted on the carrying member, a lockinglever, cooperating means carried by thesupporting leg and leverto lockthe leg in operative position, means for moving the leg to lockedposition, and means limiting themovement of the leg to operativeposition. i

8. A support of the character described, comprising a carrying member, asupporting leg, means pivotally mounting the supporting leg on thecarrying member, a lever pivotally mounted on the carrying member,

a releasable interlocking connection between the lever and the inner endo'f the supporting leg when the supporting leg is in operative position,and means operable to breair the interlocking connection between thelever and leg. c

9. A support of the character described, comprising a carrying member,supporting leg, means pivotally mounting the supporting leg on thecarrying member, a lever pivotally mounted on the carrying member, areleasable interlocking connection between said lever and the innerendof the supporting leg when the supporting leg is in operative position,and means for moving the lever out of the path of the supporting leg asit moves to operative position, said means being op tion between thesupporting leg and lever.

10. A support of the character described, comprising a carrying member,a supporting leg, means pivot-ally mounting the supporting leg on thecarrying member whereby the same may move to operative position of itsown weight, andmeans for moving the leg to full operative position inthe event the same fails to move to such position of its own weight. g

11. A support of the character described, comprising a carrying member,'a'supportlng leg, means pivotally'mounting the supporting leg on thecarrying member whereby the same may move to operative position of itsown weight, means releasably securing the supporting leg in operativeposition, and means for moving the leg to full operative position in theevent the same fails to move to such position of its own weight.

12. A support of the character described, comprising a carrying member,a supporting leg, means pivotally mounting the supporting leg on thecarrying member, a lever pivotally mounted on the carrying member, areleasable interlocking connection between the lever and the inner endof the support ing leg when the supporting leg is in operative position,the leg dropping to operative position of its own weight and theinterlocking connection between the lever releasably securing the leg insuch position, and means for moving the leg, to full operative positionin the event the same fails to move to such position of its own weight.

rable to break the locking connec- J jam 13. A support of the characterdescribed, comprising a carrying member, a supporting leg, meanspivotally mounting the supporting leg on the carrying member, a leverpivotally mounted on the carrying member, a releasable interlockingconnection between the lever and the inner end of the supporting legwhen the supporting leg is in operative position, the leg dropping tooperath'e position of its own weight and the interlocking connectionbetween the lever releasably securing the leg to such position, meansfor moving the leg to full operative position in the event the samefails to move to such position of its own weight, and means operable tobreak the interlocking connection between the lever and leg.

14. In a device of the character described, the combination with astationary member and a second member movable thereover, of a supportingstructure for the second member comprising a floor engaging member,means mounting the floor engaging member for movement to and fromconcealed and active positions, an element connected to the leg memberand adapted to lie in the plane of a part carried by the stationarymember when the leg is in collapsed position whereby movement of thesecond member to open position causes said element to swing the leg tooperative position, and means for releasably locking the leg inoperative position.

15. In a device of the character described, the combination with astationary member and a second member movable thereover, of a supportingstructure for the second member comprising a floor engaging member,means mounting the floor engaging member for movement to and fromconcealed and active positions, an element connected to the leg memberand adapted to lie in the plane section for cooperating with thesupporting surface on which the trunk rests to one side of the trunkwhen said section is in open position, and automatically acting meansfor effecting a movement of the support toward supporting position uponthe movement of the swinging section toward open position.

17. A wardrobe trunk having a section movable about an upright axis witha bottom spaced from the bottom of the trunk, a supportfor supportingthe section in open position, and automatically acting means foreffecting the movement of the support to folded position upon themovement of the swinging sect-ion towards closed position.

18. A wardrobe trunk having a section mounted to swing about an uprightaxis and having its bottom spaced from the bottom of the trunk, asupport for supporting the section in open position, acting means foreffecting the movement of the support to supporting position as thesection is being opened, and away from supporting position as thesection is being closed. V

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

GEORGE HENRY WHEARY.

and automatically

